The month of March was filled with exciting news for ACS-YLA. The Get Ur Good On Day of Service idea was selected as one of the top three finalists in the Pittsburgh Voices of Youth Competition, which is funded by the Pittsburgh Foundation. As one of the top three finalists, which was determined by public vote, Pittsburgh Cares will receive $15,000 to fund the first ever ACS-YLA Get Ur Good On Day of Service, which is the end of the year service celebration for all Academy Charter School youth, faculty and staff. The day will consists of service projects, leadership development activities, career exploration, and delicious food. Pittsburgh Cares and ACS-YLA would like to thank everyone who voted for our project.
In addition to finding out about winning the Pittsburgh Voices of Youth Competition, the youth engaged in four meaningful service projects this month. Three students, JaQuela Davis, Dennis Propst and Shamara King visited the South Sides Children Center and read Dr. Seuss books to the young children in honor of his birthday and National Read Across America Day.
All ACS-YLA youth created Shamrock Door Hangers for the residents of Paramount Senior Living Center and decorated Meals on Wheels Bags that were donated to the East End Cooperative Ministries.
In honor of National Violence Prevention Week, the youth worked together to create an educational art piece displaying the facts about violence. Every one in four individuals will at some point in their life witness or become a victim of a violent crime. Purple is the international color for peace, and the youth wrote the names of three people they care about on a purple heart and on the orange hearts they wrote the names of individuals they know or have known that were victims of violence. The art piece is proudly on display in the hallway of ACS.
During the month of February, ACS-YLA hosted a Where is the Love? Challenge. The youth analyzed the lyrics to the Black Eyed Peas song "Where is the Love?", which focuses on discrimination, terrorism, and hate, and then were challenged to create their own original essay, story, poem, rap or art piece in reaction to the lyrics. Shawntell Hipps was the winner of the challenge and received two tickets to the March 6, 2010 Penguins game. Hipps took Sue Scheppele, PE/Health Teacher, to the game with her. Her winning entry is on display on the Get Ur Good On Board at ACS. Congrats Shawntell!
On Thursday, December 10, 2009 six seniors from the Academy Charter School Young Leaders Academy (ACS-YLA) volunteered their time at the Marines Toys for Tots warehouse. The students spent the late morning and early afternoon sorting and organizing toys for youth in the Greater Pittsburgh Region. When asked if the students enjoyed their volunteer experience, there were resounding yes’s across the room. For several of the students this was their first volunteer experience.
ACS-YLA volunteer Shawn Drake said that the reason he enjoyed the experience so much was because he liked the mystery of it all. The children will be wondering where these toys come from and Drake said it made him happy to know that he helped make their Christmas special.
All of the students enjoyed their volunteer experience so much that they have already asked what the next volunteer project will be. Meg Schreck, ACS-YLA Program Manager, will be working with the seniors to spearhead the Souper Bowl of Caring Food Drive at the Academy Charter School. The drive will take place from January 18-February 7, 2010. All the proceeds collected will be donated to the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank. The students will then participate in an on-site volunteer project at the Food Bank.
Urban Youth Action Inc. Facilitates Black History Month Project at Focus on Renewal February 2009
Each year, Pittsburgh Cares celebrates the life and accomplishments of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. by doing a volunteer project in his honor. We do this to celebrate the diversity not only of our great country but also of the small communities within our city that is Pittsburgh. This year to celebrate Black History Month and Dr. King, Urban Youth Action Inc. teamed up with Pittsburgh Cares along with 400 other volunteers to build “Diversity Shelves” at the Bidwell Training Center. The volunteers built the shelves from scratch and then creatively plastered them with pictures and images of the civil rights era and of course of our favorite hero, Dr. King. The truly great part of the project is what happens after the shelves are built…
On February 20, 2009 Urban Youth Action’s students delivered the “Diversity Shelves” to Focus on Renewal in McKees Rocks where a group of younger students that attend their after school program were waiting. The group from UYA facilitated activities surrounding diversity with the students from Focus on Renewal. It was truly mentoring at its best! All involved had a great time and we were able to supply one shelf to eight classrooms at the center.
The students also paired up and created two large diversity collages together which are now hung up at the Focus on Renewal after school program.
Mt. Lebanon Senior High School Day of Service January 2009
Mt. Lebanon Senior High School had their first Day of Service on January 30, 2009, incorporating the entire school. Roughly 1,500 kids in total participated in the projects which were all done in-house at the high school. The students painted mural boards, made picture frames, no-sew scarves and blankets, 500 + sandwiches for homeless shelters, collected supplies for schools affected by Hurricane Katrina, created greeting cards for local senior homes and veteran’s centers and much more. The day was a huge success and many of the students and teachers had great things to say about the projects.
Dale Wang, President of the Mt. Lebanon High School Future Business Leaders of America said, “I think volunteering instills values in young people and being able to help people in need is something special.” Math teacher Ben Erdeljac said, “It gives students a feeling of being a part of something larger than themselves.” Surely, this was a day larger and more special than anyone could have imagined and we are happy to say that many of the donations made will be going to support Pittsburgh Cares agency partners!
Moving the Lives of Kids Mural Project September 2008
Pittsburgh Cares, Openstage Theatre, and the MLK Community Mural Project, also known as Moving the Lives of Kids Mural Project, partnered in July and August 2008 to paint a mural with eight Pittsburgh youth in the Strip District. The youth involved in the project are aspiring young artists from all over the city. These youth learned about the historic figures and events of their neighborhoods and translated that knowledge into beautiful organic images on the walls. This particular mural located right on Smallman Street, is an ode to the Strip District’s long and rich history, as well as Pittsburgh’s theatre history.
The MLK Community Mural Project is the biggest and brightest art venture in the city of Pittsburgh’s history, with murals scheduled to cover 26 walls throughout the city. With much more to come, the projects are already engaging hundreds of Pittsburgh’s brightest residents!
Kiski Prep Students Make A Difference Where They Live December 2007
200 Kiski Prep Students and their 30 teachers and staff performed service in their community on Wednesday, December 12, 2007, completing 12 different service activities within Saltsburg and Indiana County! Volunteer projects included landscaping, painting, cleaning, moving, and general maintenance at places like the Salt Center, Habitat for Humanity of Indiana County, the Salvation Army, Indiana Players, and local churches. A singing performance by Kiski’s Glee Club and crafts took place at the Saltsburg Social Center for seniors. Marcus Muster, Director of Technology and Head Football Coach said, “Because we are in Saltsburg, but not necessarily in the downtown community, it is important for the kids to give back in a good and visible way.” Frank Kowalewski is a student from the area who said, “It shows that you care and are willing to take time out to give back. It makes you appreciate the education you are receiving even more.”
The month of March was filled with exciting news for ACS-YLA. The Get Ur Good On Day of Service idea was selected as one of the top three finalists in the Pittsburgh Voices of Youth Competition, which is funded by the Pittsburgh Foundation. As one of the top three finalists, which was determined by public vote, Pittsburgh Cares will receive $15,000 to fund the first ever ACS-YLA Get Ur Good On Day of Service, which is the end of the year service celebration for all Academy Charter School youth, faculty and staff. The day will consists of service projects, leadership development activities, career exploration, and delicious food. Pittsburgh Cares and ACS-YLA would like to thank everyone who voted for our project. 
In honor of National Violence Prevention Week, the youth worked together to create an educational art piece displaying the facts about violence. Every one in four individuals will at some point in their life witness or become a victim of a violent crime. Purple is the international color for peace, and the youth wrote the names of three people they care about on a purple heart and on the orange hearts they wrote the names of individuals they know or have known that were victims of violence. The art piece is proudly on display in the hallway of ACS. 
During the month of February, ACS-YLA hosted a Where is the Love? Challenge. The youth analyzed the lyrics to the Black Eyed Peas song "Where is the Love?", which focuses on discrimination, terrorism, and hate, and then were challenged to create their own original essay, story, poem, rap or art piece in reaction to the lyrics. Shawntell Hipps was the winner of the challenge and received two tickets to the March 6, 2010 Penguins game. Hipps took Sue Scheppele, PE/Health Teacher, to the game with her. Her winning entry is on display on the Get Ur Good On Board at ACS. Congrats Shawntell! 
Each year, Pittsburgh Cares celebrates the life and accomplishments of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. by doing a volunteer project in his honor. We do this to celebrate the diversity not only of our great country but also of the small communities within our city that is Pittsburgh. This year to celebrate Black History Month and Dr. King, Urban Youth Action Inc. teamed up with Pittsburgh Cares along with 400 other volunteers to build “Diversity Shelves” at the Bidwell Training Center. The volunteers built the shelves from scratch and then creatively plastered them with pictures and images of the civil rights era and of course of our favorite hero, Dr. King. The truly great part of the project is what happens after the shelves are built…
Mt. Lebanon Senior High School had their first Day of Service on January 30, 2009, incorporating the entire school. Roughly 1,500 kids in total participated in the projects which were all done in-house at the high school. The students painted mural boards, made picture frames, no-sew scarves and blankets, 500 + sandwiches for homeless shelters, collected supplies for schools affected by Hurricane Katrina, created greeting cards for local senior homes and veteran’s centers and much more. The day was a huge success and many of the students and teachers had great things to say about the projects.
Pittsburgh Cares, Openstage Theatre, and the MLK Community Mural Project, also known as Moving the Lives of Kids Mural Project, partnered in July and August 2008 to paint a mural with eight Pittsburgh youth in the Strip District. The youth involved in the project are aspiring young artists from all over the city. These youth learned about the historic figures and events of their neighborhoods and translated that knowledge into beautiful organic images on the walls. This particular mural located right on Smallman Street, is an ode to the Strip District’s long and rich history, as well as Pittsburgh’s theatre history. 
200 Kiski Prep Students and their 30 teachers and staff performed service in their community on Wednesday, December 12, 2007, completing 12 different service activities within Saltsburg and Indiana County! Volunteer projects included landscaping, painting, cleaning, moving, and general maintenance at places like the Salt Center, Habitat for Humanity of Indiana County, the Salvation Army, Indiana Players, and local churches. A singing performance by Kiski’s Glee Club and crafts took place at the Saltsburg Social Center for seniors. Marcus Muster, Director of Technology and Head Football Coach said, “Because we are in Saltsburg, but not necessarily in the downtown community, it is important for the kids to give back in a good and visible way.” Frank Kowalewski is a student from the area who said, “It shows that you care and are willing to take time out to give back. It makes you appreciate the education you are receiving even more.”